King Charles III “is strong” in the face of a “terrifying disease,” according to his stepson, Tom Parker Bowles.

Queen Camilla’s son told People how the monarch, 76 next month, “is doing what he can” after Charles reportedly stopped his cancer treatment to go on a tour of Australia and Samoa.

“It’s a terrifying disease, and when someone close to you gets it in whatever capacity, it’s a very worrying thing,” he said.

“But my mother is strong as well. She supports him in every way. I think it’s wonderful to have someone you love by your side.”

“He is doing what he can,” Parker Bowles continued. “He’s following the advice of his doctors. Fingers crossed, touch wood.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla were given a bumpy ride in Australia after every state premier snubbed invitations to a welcome reception, while republicans launched a campaign rebranding the visit as the last chance to say “farewell” before scrapping the monarchy.

Once there, Charles gave a speech in the Australian Parliament after which independent, indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe staged a protest accusing him of genocide over the history of the British Empire.

There have also been big crowds of supporters at some visits too, including outside Sydney Opera House on October 22 and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also chose to welcome the king despite having expressed republican sentiment in the past.

Parker Bowles said Charles was “a magnificent king” and said of his mother: “I’m incredibly proud of her. She’s at an age when most people think of retiring, but she never complains; she just gets on with it.”

King Charles was admitted to The London Clinic in late January for a planned procedure on an enlarged prostate during which doctors noticed a secondary issue. Follow-up tests led to a diagnosis of cancer after which he began regular treatment.

The king initially had to suspend public visits and even conducted some weekly audiences with the previous Prime Minister, , by phone before gradually stepping up his workload.

His treatment was going well enough to allow him to attend Trooping the Color, his birthday parade, in June, though he did not ride on his back in the ceremony as he did in 2023.

Charles also gave the king’s speech during the State Opening of Parliament in July, following a U.K. general election in which the king’s second prime minister , was elected.

Williams Brown is Regalrumination.com‘s chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly , at and read his stories on Regalrumination.com‘s .

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